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Womb transplants could become a reality, says surgeon

A womb transplant might sound like science fiction, but experts suggest they could become an option for infertile women within two years.

Approximately one in every 5,000 baby girls are born without a womb. Some women lose their womb due to labour complications, while thousands more have them removed as a result of cervical or womb cancer.

Richard Smith, head gynaecological surgeon from Imperial College, said, “Infertility in its various forms is increasing and while IVF can and does help many women, for those who do not want to go the route of surrogacy or adoption, nothing but a transplant can help a woman without a viable womb,” reports the Telegraph.

Once the womb has been transplanted, a woman would be able to conceive through IVF. The womb would then be removed after one or two babies were conceived, to avoid a lifetime of anti-rejection drugs.

One successful womb transplant has taken place in Turkey, where the prospective mum hopes to become pregnant with her own frozen embryos.

Once through the strict UK regulations, Richard believes the surgery could be available to women in two years.